My cat is aggressive and anxious around guests. What should I do?

Hi there. Yes, there are definitely medications that can help with chronic anxiety in cats, and she would likely also benefit from other changes in her environment to help make her more comfortable. Ideally, I would strongly recommend getting in touch with a veterinary behaviorist who can evaluate her in person and help you put together a detailed treatment plan for her, including medication if he/she feels that it would be helpful in Sunny's case. You can search for one in your area here: www.dacvb.org If this isn't possible, then you can certainly work with your regular veterinarian if he/she is comfortable treating behavioral issues in cats. You will indeed need to have her seen for an exam in order to start any prescription medication - so you'll need to bring her into the clinic, or you can see if there are any vets in your area who offer housecall services. You can ask your veterinarian about using a calming supplement such as Anxitane or Zylkene before the visit to help make her a bit more comfortable, if needed.

Hello and thank you for reaching out to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. I’m sorry to hear that TC is having some behavioral issues after the move. It sounds like you have tried lots of changes at home, so it may be time to consult your veterinarian about anti-anxiety medications. These have few side effects, typically including sedation, which may help your cat feel more calm and comfortable at home. I hope this is helpful!

Yes, anti-anxiety medications are warranted in this situation if you have already tried the other options. We save medications as the last resort. All the anti-anxiety medications are prescription through your vet so you will have to call them and ask about getting Bravo on something. They will have to examine him first if it has been a while since he has been to the vet.

I'm glad to see that Pippin has been neutered because this eliminates that possibility of hormone-fueled behavioral changes and aggression. Behavioral changes in cats can occur at any point in time, and could be related to anxiety or stressful situations (even rearranging furniture or introducing new people to the home can be stressful to cats). Without a lot more information and observing Pippin's behaviors, I can't precisely tell you why these changes are occurring. It may be best to consult a veterinary behaviorist in your home so that they can observe everything firsthand. You can also try using calming pheromone collars or diffusers (Feliway is one example), and discussing the use of anxiety medication with Pippin's vet. I hope that all goes well!

He may be experiencing some stress and anxiety from having another cat in the house. You could try Feliway Spray or a diffuser and see if that helps. You could also try Solliquin and see if that helps. If he is still having issues than your vet could prescribe an anti-anxiety medication, like Prozac. http://www.feliway.com/us/#redirected http://www.solliquin.com/

Aw, what a handsome boy! I’m sorry the treatment didn’t give him relief. You can try a product, such as [Zymox](https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/zymox-spray-with-5-hydrocortisone), on the areas where he seems most bothered. Also, I would recommend a “no additive” cat litter such as [Yesterday’s News]() or [Feline Pine](https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/feline-pine-cat-litter). It may be that his anxiety is contributing to his [over grooming](https://www.petcoach.co/article/excessive-grooming-in-cats-what-it-means-and-how-to-help), so you might ask your vet about trying him on a medication such as [fluoxetine](https://www.petcoach.co/pet-medication/fluoxetine/). If none of this helps, it may be best to consider a consultation with a [veterinary dermatologist](https://www.acvd.org/tools/locator/locator.asp?ids=16_Find_Dermatologist) to get as directly to a diagnosis and proper treatment as possible. Thanks for asking PetCoach!

It's possible Mica is feeling a little stressed, or is a bit under socialized. If the behavior happened suddenly or occurred after a surgery it is also a good idea to schedule a vet visit as behavior changes can sometimes indicate pain or illness. if Mica checks out healthy, you may need to practice some socialization skills. This includes making sure she has a place to hide/relax when people are over. if she does check out new people, have them toss a treat or play with a favorite toy such as a feather on a stick that can introduce positive interactions rather than attempting to chase or pet her. If there are other pets in the house causing stress, making sure she has access to food, water, litter and bedding without competing with other pets can also help to reduce stress. Pheromone diffusers in plug-in or collar form can also release a calming pheromone which can help with stress and anxiety. If the behavior continues it is also a good idea to talk with your vet or a veterinary behaviorist about a training plan that may include medication to help reduce anxiety while instilling calming behaviors.